We limit access by GUESTS to protect our members from spam, hacks and trolls. Please register to gain access to all our resources.
Posted by John Hopkins
- March 09, 2015, 13:54:42 PMPlease don't show any more photo's of lift tables.. I haven't got one and it makes me feel jealous.
And JagLite, did you know that you have a couple of hairy rats running around your workshop?
John.
Posted by JagLite
- March 09, 2015, 10:23:19 AMI have wanted a lift for several years, but the cost!
The $300 HF would be just fine for me but the shipping costs more than the lift. 
I keep watching CL locally though...
I have 3 bike work tables that can take the weight, and an engine hoist to lift the bike onto them but a lift table for the Drifter would be excellent.
Posted by DC
- March 09, 2015, 00:56:04 AMQuote from: Boaski on October 31, 2013, 11:52:37 AMHF just had the sale this past weekend for 299. Plus, using the 20% coupon, it comes to 240 plus tax. I was reading some reviews and what some guys are doing is adding the 97145 or 97841 Wheel Chock on the front, and using the supplied wheel clamp on the back. This makes it much easier to load the bike as a one man operation.Harbor Freight has sale ads in almost all of the motorcycle magazines every month with these lifts for $299.00. That's how I got mine.
Posted by 49Reo
- December 11, 2013, 20:41:24 PMNice bike on the lift; are you going to saw it in half? 
Posted by Starfruit Bongwater
- December 11, 2013, 18:49:03 PMWe got a couple of K & L air lifts where I work. They have been flawless for the past 2 years. I use a pallet jack to move it around, though you can hook a strap to it and slide it. I've never pulled the trap door for the rear wheel, just never needed to. Kind of spendy at $1000 plus, but you can catch them on sale and K&L sometimes offers free shipping.
But no matter what lift you choose, it gonna save wear an tear on your body. I sure do enjoy them. 
Posted by greenbarn
- October 31, 2013, 16:58:25 PMQuote from: Boaski on October 31, 2013, 11:52:37 AMHarbor Freight has sale ads in almost all of the motorcycle magazines every month with these lifts for $299.00. That's how I got mine.
Guess I need to pick up a copy of a bike rag someplace if I decide to go that route. I'm thinking I could POSSIBLY modify one of those to get what I want, maybe easier/cheaper than building one from scratch.
Posted by greenbarn
- October 31, 2013, 16:56:35 PMQuote from: DC on October 31, 2013, 06:52:40 AMNow THAT's a NICE LIFT. Looks like they though of about everything. I don't think we need to see the guy put on all 4 wheels on the big quad, but that thing is certainly versatile. If only I could afford that one..... I like the features, though, if I end up building one, you can bet we're going to try to incorporate some of them...When I was going to go the table route, here's the one I spec'd out. It can also lift quads.
Posted by Boaski
- October 31, 2013, 11:52:37 AMQuote from: greenbarn on October 30, 2013, 20:46:29 PMHarbor Freight has sale ads in almost all of the motorcycle magazines every month with these lifts for $299.00. That's how I got mine.Thanks for all the input:
In order:
Boa: I looked at those too, but right now the "sale" price is about $430. Some of the other tables (I think) are a little wider and/or have add-on tables to make them wide enough for a quad, etc. I think the Titan's are around $700.I'm still looking for used, too. May have a lead..
Posted by CDNRatMan
- October 31, 2013, 09:35:09 AM Well because I do not have a quad, nor really want one, my favorite uncle DC only has to buy me the bike lift and all the cool parts, and have it delivered to my place...so nice of him.
But that is one nice lift.
Posted by DC
- October 31, 2013, 06:52:40 AMQuote from: greenbarn on October 30, 2013, 20:46:29 PMWhen I was going to go the table route, here's the one I spec'd out. It can also lift quads.Thanks for all the input:
In order:
DC: I considered that route - seems like a lot easier to store. However, I also would like be able to lift bigger stuff like my quad, a mower, perhaps even something like a truck cab
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Vbn4xpsyt8o
Posted by greenbarn
- October 30, 2013, 21:01:42 PMhttp://akroncanton.craigslist.org/tld/4116742877.html
Does anybody know what the "uprights" are used for on this lift???
Posted by greenbarn
- October 30, 2013, 20:46:29 PMThanks for all the input:
In order:
DC: I considered that route - seems like a lot easier to store. However, I also would like be able to lift bigger stuff like my quad, a mower, perhaps even something like a truck cab .... I might still end up going this route, but leaning towards a table, if funds and/or time permits
John: That's not a bad idea. I don't know where I'd find one off hand, but you never know... That makes me think there are probably other things that could be "converted".
Boa: I looked at those too, but right now the "sale" price is about $430. Some of the other tables (I think) are a little wider and/or have add-on tables to make them wide enough for a quad, etc. I think the Titan's are around $700.
I'm still looking for used, too. May have a lead..
Posted by Boaski
- October 29, 2013, 11:46:40 AMI bought a Harbor Freight lift table this summer. Best $300.00 I've spent. After looking at it I don't think I could build one for that price.
I wouldn't spend the extra on the pneumatic lift (I'm not sure they even offer it anymore) as the thing lifts pretty easy.
I do want to make a pair or rail on either side so I can use it for snowmobiles as well.
Greenbarn, swing by if you want to take a look at it.
Posted by John Hopkins
- October 29, 2013, 11:30:19 AMI don't know what your chances are of getting one but you can convert an old hospital bed to a hydrolic lift.
I got a free one from my local hospital because they upgraded theirs.
You said you like to build things and there are plenty of instructions on youtube.
John.
Posted by DC
- October 29, 2013, 07:42:30 AMQuote from: DC on March 02, 2013, 06:53:24 AMWell, I did end up going with the Harbor Freight lift.I think that's the Harbor Freight one. I looked at that several weeks ago. What I hear from others is that the bike won't lift perfectly level to the ground. Meaning, the lift arms have a bit of sag and the bike will be leaning to the outer side of the stand. The other thing I heard is that it's a little wobbly, but it works okay. Some people have added extra bushing/washers/spacers, etc. to take the slop out of the fittings. Bear in mind you will have unrestricted access to the bike only on one side. You also have to consider the distance between the lift arms and if they are properly spaced will to fit under and lift a Drifter. I don't know. Maybe someone here has one and can give us some first hand info and experience.
For the price, you are about $100 shy of the sale price of the lift table. But consider which will work better for your specific needs.
The guy at Harbor Freight told me to wait until the first or second week of March to buy anything big-ticket, as they will be having a killer sale then.
It suits my needs well, doesn't take up much space, and I got a great deal on it, with it being on sale and applying the 20% coupon. Out the door for less than $150.
I have to say, they could have done a better job in cleaning off the media blast material. Lots of loose shot in the box. HA! But after cleaning that up, you have yourself a pretty nice lift. I used it for the oil change some months ago, and it worked fine. Yes, it's a lot of weight being suspended, and there's a bit of swaying going on, but the lift can handle it. There are some vids on Youtube of people using it. Remember, support the back tire if removing the front tire, and vice versa, just for added stability and weight distribution. The adapter I got on FleaBay worked just fine with the lift.
There's some assembly required, but nothing earth-shattering. You do have to fill the lift cylinder with hydraulic fluid, before using it. Naturally, I got more fluid on me than in the cylinder. There are also some of those "C" clips that have to be installed to hold things in place. . . you know the ones that go flying off the C clip tool. To this day, there are probably still two or three of them orbiting the earth from when I was trying to put the stand together. I had to go and buy more locally, since some of them were "launched" during assembly.
I'm really glad I got this unit. A table would have been nice, but you still need a separate lift, if you plan to remove either wheel. I looked at tables and after pricing the separate lift into the equation, it just made more sense to go with the HF lift at this point in time, and save the difference for other things.